Sewing Face Masks: Vital information!
Please SEW Masks! If you have a pattern for a mask use it, but if you need a pattern we have several below. Get creative. There are lots of ways to make a good mask for yourself and others to stop spreading the virus.
**And please wear a mask when you go out of your house in public places.**
We are all in this together.
We have mask drop off box on our front steps 11-4 Monday-Saturday. Some extra tips:
-Jersey knit, like that of a t-shirt can be cut into strips for ties or used in place of elastic. But be sure to test it since not all jersey is the same.
-Several patterns for masks are listed below. We are not experts on this so we suggest trying different ones to see which one works best for you with the supplies you have. There are many more mask patterns on the internet. Try one design before you mass produce.
***This is our new favorite mask pattern! It's elegant and simple to sew, yet close fitting: Origami Mask Pattern. Sew to Speak instructor Rachel Wallis recorded a video on how to make it. You can watch on the Columbus Cultural Art Center Facebook Page.
Jamie and Amber from Fancy Tiger have a great pattern too. LINK
This mask pattern has been requested by the Franklin County Dept of Emergency Medical Services.
Free Video and free pattern link. Comes in many sizes. Thank you "ITHINKSEW"
Two patterns from Regional Medical Center in Manchester, both with a pocket for a filter: https://www.regmedctr.org/services/public-health/health-alerts/covid-19-%28novel-coronavirus%29/default.aspx
Free pattern: Joost De Cock (Old Dutch for “The Cook”) started the FreeSewing Open Source Project from his home in the Netherlands to provide free sewing patterns. Recently, his wife who is a surgeon started seeing potential shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE). Joost knew what to do, so he posted it to FreeSewing in late February. People thought he was being silly as a handmade mask would never be used by professionals.
This mask is designed by a nurse and can fit either directly on the face or over an N95 filter: https://www.instructables.com/id/AB-Mask-for-a-Nurse-by-a-Nurse/?fbclid=IwAR0ANbb6OLqZ4gmayoq2r8YQ8yjHTREcz-7z8F4jwHe3aRzFoP0KzzaTRpA
A roundup of five different mask patterns with instructions for making them: https://shanniemakes.com/duckbill-style-face-mask-pattern/?fbclid=IwAR28aADbpfzIIB5WU9gISfeLMRn85nXvruYD2rKV5uVzSh_w3cC_NfGw9QY
Fabrics
If you can, please use elastics which do not contain latex. They can be deadly to people with latex allergies, fabric ties are preferable if you don’t know the latex content of your elastic.
From what we have heard from providers the best option is
Additional Resources:
A roundup of patterns, tutorials, and requests for donations on the eQuilter website.
Crafters Against Covid-19 Facebook Group
A Google Doc roundup of best practices, research, and calls for donations.
Comments on this post (9)
Just so you realize, masks prevent your cough/sneeze/laugh/talk infection particles from becoming airborne and infecting people who are not infected. Also, wearing a mask if you are not infected will prevent your from touching your face, and does give a slight degree of barrier from airborne particles. Everyone in public places should wear a mask because you can be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic and infect others. Masks, when worn properly and the wearer exercises the 6 foot safety zone almost guarantee you will not catch the virus, or give the virus. Love thy neighbor, wear a mask! I am going to make these, btw, and wear them when I leave the safety of my home. I hope you do too.
— Sharen
I have seen conflicting information about whether Ohiohealth wants homemade masks or not. Can you find an official notification about this? Thanks
— Teri Parker
Hi Anita, I received messages from Ohio Health and the Franklin County Health Dept today requesting home made masks. I live here near Columbus but have been working with Sew Masks 4 Cincy on Facebook to establish Sew Masks 4 Cbus. Please find Sew Masks 4 Cbus for the two patterns created with the help of medical professionals from TriHealth. There’s also an easier version of a surgical mask from Deaconess, but the first two offer more protection. The N95 mask covers are needed the most. Please find our Facebook group to get these patterns/tutorials and the ten drop-off locations. Thank you for getting involved and helping any way that you can.
Lisa
Sew Masks 4 Cbus
— Lisa
Hello, I was just taking a look at your site and submitted this message via your “contact us” form. The contact page on your site sends you messages like this via email which is why you are reading my message at this moment right? That’s the most important accomplishment with any kind of online ad, making people actually READ your advertisement and that’s exactly what I just accomplished with you! If you have something you would like to blast out to thousands of websites via their contact forms in the US or anywhere in the world let me know, I can even focus on particular niches and my charges are super low. Write a reply here: trinitybeumer@gmail.com
— Alberta Pease
Hi Anita,
Thank you for all the information and for all you do as a local business and for the community. Here is a free pattern (video) of a mask that a Cleveland hospital is asking people to make. It does allow for a filter to be put into it. I know some health care people are cutting up vacuum bags due to the amount of filtration they provide and putting them into the masks. The masks are not a false sense of hope, it’s an honest effort And attempt to at least have a little more of a barrier compared to nothing. The other masks out there can be used by the public to help as well. My father in law is an epidemiologist and he agrees, it’s better than nothing. Keep up the good fight. Hugs to you all!
https://youtu.be/DqlmDf6_hsY
— Aloha
Hi Anita,
Thank you for all the information and for all you do as a local business and for the community. Here is a free pattern (video) of a mask that a Cleveland hospital is asking people to make. It does allow for a filter to be put into it. I know some health care people are cutting up vacuum bags due to the amount of filtration they provide and putting them into the masks. The masks are not a false sense of hope, it’s an honest effort And attempt to at least have a little more of a barrier compared to nothing. The other masks out there can be used by the public to help as well. My father in law is an epidemiologist and he agrees, it’s better than nothing. Keep up the good fight. Hugs to you all!
https://youtu.be/DqlmDf6_hsY
— Aloha
Just got 10 fat quarters. Please bill me.
— Kirsten Chan
I have material to donate
— Cynthia
Thank you for sharing the information regarding the dire need to verify the usefulness of these masks. The good intentions are notable but homemade masks are not in any way suitable as PPE. I’d like nothing more than to be of help in this manner but I cannot avoid the science. Wearing a mask that does not filter the particles is more dangerous than going without as it creates a false sense of security.
— Luann